The latest Covid hospital figures have shown another rise in the number of patients needing medical treatment across the country.
As of 8:00 am this morning, there were 1,047 people in hospitals with the virus - marking a rise of five people since Monday.
Of this number, 42 are in intensive care units nationwide - which hasn’t changed since yesterday.
Concerns are being raised around the level of pressure mounting on hospitals across the country as St. Patrick’s Day nears.
With festivities returning for the first time in two years, emergency departments will be preparing for an influx of cases.
As the celebrations kick off, some have called for the reintroduction of compulsory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport as fears grow over increased infection levels.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said warned that the chronic overcrowding mixed with Covid is “a recipe for disaster.”
Earlier this week, Professor Kingston Mills said the issue around Paddy’s Day won’t be the parade - as it’s outdoors - but rather the activities before and after, as well as the transport to and from.
He said he believed the rule on masks should have remained in place in a number of settings, and that the government acted with haste in the most recent lifting.
Meanwhile, Professor Jack Lambert said people seem to have forgotten how contagious the virus is, and that by not wearing masks in certain settings you could be spreading it.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, he said, “Whether it is mandatory or not, I think there should be a message from our Government, that people should continue to do the right thing.”
